RECYCLE WATER: GRAYWATER Conservation BACKGROUND Graywater is lightly used water from clothes washers, showers, bathtub, and bathroom sinks. Although it contains some soap and detergents, it’s a safe water supply for most landscapes. A graywater system can save water, money and time. Learn about the types of graywater systems and if a graywater system is right for you. Attend a 4-part virtual graywater workshop and check out the rebates here. THE PROBLEM With demand for water exceeding the supply in California, we need to look for additional sources of water. Greywater in one solution. Greywater is gently used water from your bathroom sinks, showers, tubs and washing machines. Although it contains some soap and detergents, it’s a safe water supply for most landscapes. A greywater system can save water, money and time. HOW YOU CAN HELP Learn about installing a graywater system at home by referring to the resources on the right! RESOURCES The Water-Wise Home Create An Oasis with Greywater Greywater Action Graywater & Water-saving resources at Valley Water For inquiries about Graywater program contact us at: info@greentownlosaltos.org

Past Programs CLIMATE CHANGE Encouraged the City to sign the US Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement. Recommended the City complete baseline inventory of greenhouse gas emissions. WASTE Saved the City >$200,000 in consulting fees by providing in-depth research and analysis for waste contract. Educated Environmental Commission and City Council about waste collection issues, including importance of food waste and compostables collection WoW! This is a great place to tell people more about your business. WATTS This is a great place to tell people more about your business, and the services you offer. Want to make this content your own? It's easy. WATER This is a great place to tell people more about your business, and the services you offer. Want to make this content your own? It's easy.

GET INVOLVED Internships for Students Application 2026 Summer Internships is now open! Apply Here MEET OUR 2025 Summer Interns MEET OUR 2024 Summer Interns MEET OUR 2023 Summer Interns MEET OUR 2022 Summer Interns MEET OUR 2021 Summer Interns MEET OUR 2020 Summer Interns Email Us internship@greentownlosaltos.org Email Us info@greentownlosaltos.org Volunteer Opportunities Abound... There are lots of opportunities to volunteer with GreenTown Los Altos, whether you just want to contribute to a single project, work with us for a few hours on a single day, or make a longer term commitment. Below are some of our current volunteer openings. To volunteer, email us. Email Us volunteer@greentownlosaltos.org Email Us info@greentownlosaltos.org JOIN US WE ARE LOOKING FOR ... Volunteer-Intern Openings VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Schools WoW Program Coordinator GreenTown is looking for a new WoW! Project Lead! The Project Lead provides support to school leads in promoting alternative forms of transportation to school, including biking, walking and carpooling. These modes reduce greenhouse gases and toxic air emissions and help reduce traffic congestion around our schools. Plus, it’s a healthy and fun way for kids to bookend their school day! Check out our webpage at: https://www.greentownlosaltos.org/schoolswow The GreenTown WoW! Project Lead: Helps School WoW! Leads with Program Planning Encourages and Supports Bike/Ped Safety Instruction Provides Marketing Support Conducts Data Analysis and Supports Program Evaluation Please see here for a more detailed description Volunteer Development Leader Actively recruit volunteers from our local community to get involved in GreenTown’s projects and events. Mentor volunteers, and organize a Volunteer Appreciation event. EMAIL us if you are interested. Bike/Walk Events Biking you thing? Help organize community bike tours of historical sites, native landscapes, Hardy Jones artistic metal sculptures, and summer & winter solstice rides. Coordinate GreenTown’s Bike Valet service at community events. EMAIL us if you are interested. Help Plant Trees! Our 500 Trees project continues to plant trees throughout our local community. Help us plant trees! The hardest part is digging the hole. Someone with a truck would be helpful too. EMAIL us if you are interested. Researcher/Writer Love the written word? Research and write articles for our blog and for local news outlets to spread the word about green happenings in our community. EMAIL us if you are interested. Marketing Events Outreach and Social Media & Blog Poster Great at networking? Post events on local media datebooks and email schools and other organizations to promote GreenTown projects and events. Post to our Facebook page and Twitter account. Edit articles and post to the GreenTown blog and Los Altos Patch blog. EMAIL us if you are interested Photographer/Videographer Great with a camera? Like video editing? Take photos and videos at GreenTown events. Edit videos and upload to GreenTown’s YouTube channel. EMAIL us if you are interested. STUDENT INTERNSHIPS 2026 Summer Internships application is now open! For 2025, we are offering four paid internships in two project areas. Each internship is for 10 hours/week for 6 weeks at $18.20/hour. Promoting Responsible Use of the Batteries That Power Our Lives (2 Interns) Understanding the food waste pyramid (2 Interns) See this document for additional details. The internships are open to: Students attending the MVLA schools OR residents of Los Altos or Los Altos Hills attending other schools. 1: Promoting Responsible Use of the Batteries That Power Our Lives Mentors: Clari Nolet & Stan Scardino (Rotary Los Altos) and Laura Teksler (GreenTown Los Altos) Description: Our world is full of electronics and many of these devices are powered by lithium-ion batteries. But what happens to that hazardous battery when your electric toothbrush dies? Hopefully it is properly recycled through a program like Rotary Climate Action Committee’s Lithium-Ion recycling program. In this internship you will help promote this program to local residents by creating short-form videos and other media content demonstrating what items can be recycled through the program and what happens to the batteries when they are properly disposed of and the dangers when they are not. 2: Understanding the food waste pyramid (2 interns) Mentor: Madhuri Davidson, Glenda Chang, Margie Suozzo (GreenTown Los Altos) Description: Food waste is a big contributor to climate change. When food ends up in landfills, it creates powerful greenhouse gases like methane. If food waste were a country, it would be the third largest emitter in the world. This internship provides an opportunity to learn why food waste matters and how communities can reduce it. You’ll work with real data from local waste haulers; research solutions used in other cities and organizations, and explore how composting can cut emissions. By the end, you’ll build skills in research, data analysis, and communication, and share your findings with the GreenTown board and the community.

CREEK CLEANUP Conservation BACKGROUND In 2011 GreenTown officially “adopted” the Permanente Diversion Channel through the Santa Clara Valley Water District (currently Valley Water). The channel runs from Heritage Oaks Park at Portland and Miramonte to Stevens Creek at Highway 85. Look for the sign at the corner of Portland and Miramonte declaring this a GreenTown “baby”. Our commitment? To organize and gather volunteers for biannual creek cleanup events in coordination with Valley Water. Ours is one of 50 sites countywide that participate in National River Cleanup Day, the third Saturday in May, and National Coastal Cleanup Day, the third Saturday in September. THE PROBLEM People are the main source of litter in our waterways. Litter from streets goes into our creeks and flows into San Francisco Bay and then into the ocean. 80% of the trash on beaches starts in inland areas. HOW YOU CAN HELP GreenTown encourages volunteers of all ages to help support a healthy environment in our local creek through these educational and fun-filled experiences. Activities include education about watersheds and water pollution, removing debris from the creek bed and the creek banks, and sorting and weighing all that was removed. GreenTown reports back to Valley Water and the results are spectacular! You can check out the countywide numbers at cleanacreek.org, where you also can register to volunteer for the next cleanup event. RESOURCES National River Cleanup Day Community Kids Cleaned the Creek National River Cleanup Day Recap Another Successful Creek Cleanup For inquiries about the "Don't Blow it!" program contact us at: info@greentownlosaltos.org

DON'T BLOW IT! Clean Air No FAQs yet This category doesn't have any FAQs at the moment. Check back later or explore other categories. RESOURCES "Don't Blow It!" Flyer Letter to Landscape Provider: English - Spanish How does a Gas Leaf Blower compare to a Gas Powered Vehicle ? Other Resources: Emissions Are Significant Edmunds Emissions Study NPR Comments More Pollution Than Cars Alternatives to Gas Leaf Blowers Rakes and Brooms Bad for the Environment Bad For Your Health More on Health Also Bad For Your Health Bad For Children Bad For Your Pets Leave the Leaves Santa Monica bans all leaf blowers 4-minute video Palo Alto Online Opinion Regulations Hideous Gas Leaf Blowers Email Us For inquiries about the "Don't Blow it!" program contact us at: info@greentownlosaltos.org

Events UPCOMING 500 Trees - Library Talk Register Come learn about our 500 Tree campaign. Why are we doing this? How can you get a Tree? Presented by Gary Hedden 500 Trees - Library Talk Register Come learn about our 500 Tree campaign. Why are we doing this? How can you get a Tree? Presented by Gary Hedden CALENDAR

STORMWATER RUNOFF Conservation BACKGROUND Runoff is rain that falls onto hardscape such as the asphalt and concrete of driveways, walkways, and streets. These impervious surfaces in our urban environment prevent stormwater from naturally soaking into the ground. Following 3 years of GreenTown advocacy, in November 2018 the Los Altos City Council voted to adopt eco-friendly solutions to capture dirty street runoff. The Shoulder Paving Policy, which applies to all new residential construction and major remodels, embraces permeable materials in the City Right of Way. Organic materials allow rain to sink into the ground, where toxins are captured and decompose. These “green streets” keep polluted water out of our waterways. The abundance of natural frontage in Los Altos, streets without curbs and gutters, offer tremendous opportunity to maximize stormwater capture. THE PROBLEM Believe it or not, the single largest source of pollution in the San Francisco Bay is stormwater runoff. Runoff flows through the system of curbs and gutters to storm drains that empty directly into our watershed. Along the way, beautiful rain transforms into a pollutant. Stormwater runoff picks up oil, grease and metals from cars, chemicals that leech from asphalt, fertilizer, herbicides and insecticides from our landscape, and pet waste laden with bacteria and viruses. These pollutants pose health risks to humans, wildlife, and plants. HOW YOU CAN HELP Minimize Hardscape. Maximize Greenscape. Be a part of the solution to stormwater pollution! Capturing rain where it falls helps to keep our waterways clean and healthy. Rain water is easily captured in rain gardens, vegetated swales, catch basins, dry creeks and other greenscapes. The water is purified as it gradually percolates through the soil and recharges our aquifers. To learn more watch the videos in the resources section: “Capture Rain Where It Falls” Permeable Surfaces Handbook The "Permeable Surfaces Handbook" is a comprehensive, innovative guide designed to educate readers on easy installation of permeable surfaces, aligning with the Los Altos city code for permeable surfaces for sidewalks, walkways, patios, driveways and/or uncovered parking lots. It provides practical advice on installation and maintenance, aiming to help both DIY enthusiasts and professionals implement these eco-friendly solutions. The handbook was developed by high school student Aanya Dhruv. She worked with city engineers and iterated the guide to get it up to Los Altos housing codes. Aanya leads the ejgrassroots.org initiative that is focused on environmental justice and leveraging science to solve environmental issues. RESOURCES Download the "Permeable Surfaces Handbook " Learn about the storm water runoff and how you can help manage it - watch the videos bleow: Email Us For inquiries about stromwater run-off contact us at: info@greentownlosaltos.org

Pollinator Gardens Conservation NATURE IS CALLING! Want to encourage song birds and butterflies? Plant a pollinator garden with California native plants! Small pollinator gardens scattered throughout the city will form a healthy connection for the insects and birds that will help them thrive. NATIVE POLLINATOR GARDEN PROGRAM Pick out a small sunny location on your property, about 100sf, or a circle about 11ft. in diameter, and we will suggest some plants that will look attractive and as a group will provide color that spans the entire blooming season. We offer two levels of support: Premium Full Service: We consult with the homeowner, present our suggested plants, purchase the plants and mulch, and with the help of volunteers, plant everything. The homeowner will water the plants and weed as necessary. Cost: $250 Do it Yourself: We consult with the homeowner, present our suggested plants, purchase the plants and mulch, but the homeowner plants everything and waters the plants and weeds as needed. Cost: $175 These prices cover most but not all of our costs. We will start planting in January and will cap the Premium Full Service at ten (10) recipients for this first year. If you are interested please sign up using the form on this page. RESEARCH GreenTown's 2025 Summer interns, Luke Byrne, Huck Twerdahl and Sahana Srinivasan laid the groundwork for the pollinator gardens with their research in Sustainable Landscapes in Los Altos. They were mentored by Gary Hedden, Madhuri Davidson & KJ Janowski. Below are links to their presentation & Video Thank you for your interest in Pollinator Gardens but we are now fully booked and registration is closed for this planting season. FIRST NAME* LAST NAME* E-MAIL* ADDRESS PLEASE CHOOSE A LEVEL OF SUPPORT* Do it Yourself The Premium Service level is sold out for the season. Please check back with us in the Spring of 2026 for updates. Additional comments Submit RESOURCES Summer Intern Project Presentation Intern Presentation Video

SUNDAY, MAY 4 | 11AM - 3PM State Street, Downtown Los Altos 100 block of State Street FREE ! REGISTER NOW Join Sparky the Firefly for this family-friendly event to learn how to make your home healthier by living Electric! Explore over 25 exhibitors in four featured zones and discover how you can Electrify, See the latest in e-mobility, learn about waste reduction and enjoy interactive family activities. Check out the Silicon Valley Clean Energy Dream Home model as well as 20+ exhibitors showcasing various home electrification solutions. Select EVs will be on display showcasing their ability to act as a power source during power outages and outdoor activities. Electric Avenue Learn about how to reduce your household waste, cut back on plastic use, and check out cutting-edge upcycling initiatives that are producing cool products out of common waste items. Zero Waste The latest and greater in E-scooters and E-bikes will be on display with retailers and brand reps present to answer your questions. Micro- Mobility This interactive area will highlight educational Climate Carnival games, arts and crafts, a mini makerspace, face painting, and fun for the whole family.-to font for titles, paragraphs & more. Family Discovery Thank you to the Event Sponsors! Event Map Download PDF Map Visitors Register Here! More Event Info Exhibitors Exhibitors We are constantly updating featured Exhibits. Check back often to see what's new! Silicon Valley Clean Energy With clean electricity provided by SVCE you have the power to make all-electric choices. Learn More IRBIS Heat pump systems, smart water heaters, EV-chargers Learn More Harvest Thermal Smart Battery Harvest is on 24/7, working hard to make sure your home’s air and water temperatures are just right. Learn More Shade Power Shade Power installs solar shade structures and battery backup. We will showcase example projects. Learn More 1-888-Heat-Pumps We look at your home, comfort goals, ductwork, panel, and room layout, then help you choose a system that actually fits. Learn More Tesla Model Y Tesla Model Y, Tesla Wall Connector, Tesla Mobile Connector Learn More Hyundai Ioni5 - 2026 Meet the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5! Learn More Ford 150 Lightning See the Lightning in action and talk to its owner and how they use it to power electric equipment! Learn More Volvo PHEV Meet Volvo Electric! Learn More Maker Nexus Making jewelry and art from upcycled aluminum cans. Learn More Los Altos PD & Complete Streets Commission Learn More Cocoplum We turn hard-to-recycle pill bottles into stylish, sustainable sunglasses Learn More QuitCarbon Free ENERGY STAR® certified guidance along with vetted contractors to electrify your home. Learn More Emerald Eco We are electrification contractors. Our focus: Electrification of Appliances and Resiliency. Learn More Copper The World's First Battery Enabled Induction Range: The Charlie Learn More Acterra Electric Vehicle info with rebates & Incentives, home electrification resources and incentives. Learn More Electrification Collaboration Residential Electrification by and for Local Residents from Your Neighbors Learn More ALSO e-bike TM-B Transcendent Mobility. Class 3 E-Bike Starting @ $3500. Learn More Rivian See the Rivian R1T truck power an electric Fireplace! Learn More Telo Meet TELO. The All-Electric Mini Truck! Learn More Kindred Motor Works - Ford Bronco Classic Cars, reengineered to be driven. Meed the electrified Bronco! Learn More LAHS Sustainability Committee Learn More City of Los Altos Sustainability Learn More Ridwell Sustainably reuse and recycle your stuff with Ridwell Learn More Cinnamon Energy Systems Bay Area's premier solar, storage, HVAC and home electrification contractor Learn More Fuse Services Fuse will will showcase Heat Pump Equipment and HVAC solutions for energy-efficient electrification . Learn More Air Care Heating & Cooling Efficient heating and cooling information from a locally owned HVAC company Learn More Citizen's Climate Lobby We create political will to enact legislation to minimize climate disaster. A main action: Electrification. Learn More The Switch is On The Switch Is On helps make home electrification easy! Learn More Pebble Electrified RV Meet the electric RV - Pebble Flow ! Learn More Chevrolet Equinox Meet the Chevrolet Equinox EV ! Learn More The Bicycle Outfitter See a variety of E-Bike offerings from your local bicycle store! Learn More eMotion Autos The best way to buy a USED electric car! Learn More Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation Learn More VR Clean Air Quest Learn More Cobalt Power Systems Residential Photovoltaic Solar and Energy Storage Systems Learn More Earth Bound Homes Green Building, All electric Homes, Natural Materials, Passive House, Energy Efficiency, Toxin Free Learn More Wallbox Smart EV chargers for home, business, and more! Avoid panel upgrades. Bidirectional charging, Rebates & Incentives Learn More Infinium Solar Roofing & Electric Demo products of solar and battery storage solutions. Learn More Silicon Valley Electric Vehicle Association Educating the public about the many benefits of EVs Learn More Kia EV6 Meet the Kia EV6 ! Learn More Lucid Motors Meet the NEW Gravity Electric SUV! Learn More Last Mile E-Bikes, E-Scooters & E-Skateboards Learn More FabMo Fabric & More Rescuing designer materials, that would have ended up in lanfiills, for creative reuse. Learn More Los Altos Rotary Learn More Repair Café Silicon Valley Encouraging repair and reuse of goods rather than dumping them! Learn More Join the Exhibit Exhibitor Info Become a Sponsor More Info Volunteer Sign Up Here Hosted By We look forward to seeing you at the event. Please register to be kept updated with the latest. Register Here! About Exhibitors Highlights Event Map Visitors Exhibitors

About Us Mission OUR MISSION To protect and enhance the environment of Los Altos & Los Altos Hills through community engagement, education, and advocacy while contributing to and leveraging regional and global environmental efforts. OUR VALUES Leaving the environment a better place for the next generation Policy and decision-making based on data and scientific research Inclusion and partnership, and conducting our activities in a fair, ethical (and, when appropriate, fun) manner Education, mentorship and the inclusion of youth as much as possible in our activities Honesty and respect when presenting fact-based research and educating our community OUR BELIEFS A clean and healthy environment is vital to the health of our communities. Human activities impact the natural environment and contribute to climate change and pollution that directly affects human health Individual, community and governmental actions can mitigate the negative environmental impacts of human activities We can arrest human caused climate change and environmental degradation by individual, community and legislative action GreenTown is a project of the Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation’s Local Impact Collective Team OUR TEAM Suresh Venkatraman President, Board Suresh’s daughters’ engagement in environmental causes were a major influence to join GreenTown. Youth all over the world are asking us, the current stewards, to do everything we can to reverse our effect on the planet’s environments and climate. Actions by individuals, communities, and governments must all come together to accomplish this monumental but achievable task. Suresh is passionate that we become acutely conscious of our consumption – from energy to products, from how they are manufactured, packaged to how they are disposed of – and make decisions and take actions to minimize our footprint. Connie Miller Clean Air Lead As a Bay Area native and Los Altos resident who has spent her entire life enjoying the abundance of nature our region offers, Connie sees the urgent need to act boldly to create a sustainable and thriving environment for our children. All actions start with one person and grow into a collective wave of change. Connie believes Los Altos and Los Altos Hills are perfectly poised, with their educated residents, affluence and regional influence, to be the leaders of change and leave a lasting positive legacy for our planet. Through GreenTown Los Altos programs, education and policy influence, Connie hopes to be a resource for and inspire positive environmental change in others. Don Weiden Treasurer Don’s career as a civil/environmental engineer and his personal enjoyment in wilderness camping since grade school have led to his interest in minimizing the impacts of our engineered and human activities on the natural environment. He became interested in GreenTown Los Altos when investigating residential solar panels for his home and is now a proponent of converting vehicles and equipment from using fossil fuels to clean electrical energy. Gary Hedden Past President, Board Member Conservation Lead Gary joined GreenTown in 2011 and now leads the effort to protect our natural resources. That means planting trees, cleaning creeks and advocating for sound conservation policies. He still likes to bike, and leads the Historic Homes Bike Ride, the Native Garden Bike Tour, the Hardy Jones Memorial Bike Ride, and the Summer & Winter Solstice night bike rides. Glenda Chang Board Member Water Lead, Woodland Library Garden Lead Glenda is a long-time reef and ocean conservation advocate, and pursues the Sustainable Development Goals, also known as the Global Goals. Change for a healthier planet can start at home, by young and old alike. As such, she is eager to learn, collaborate, and engage together as a community. Her interests include SCUBA diving, technological innovation, disaster relief, island nations and their people, discovering the outdoors, photography, and being foodies with her family. One of her recent projects is providing clean water to an indigenous mountain tribe. Laura Teksler Board Member Clean Air, Electrification Laura first became involved with GreenTown as the Almond parent lead for the Walk or Wheel (WoW) program over a decade ago. She is a life-long environmentalist and lover of the outdoors who has dedicated her paid and volunteer careers to sustainability efforts. Recently through her work on the Los Altos Environmental Commission and Acterra she has become an advocate for home electrification. Madhuri Davidson Board Member Schools WoW!, Zero Waste Madhuri has been a volunteer in many of GreenTown's conservation projects. Recently, she has taken on a pivotal role, working alongside Jana to maintain, update, and clean up our membership database. Madhuri is a Living Classroom Docent at Springer Elementary where her two children are students. She is also working with GreenTown and the City to revive the WoW program and Safe Routes to School education program at Springer Elementary! Cary Anderson Eating Green Lead Cary enjoys an active lifestyle as a retired CPA and as CFO in private equity and commercial real estate industries. Cary currently volunteers for the YMCA basketball programs, the LAHS Mentor/Tutor program and, recently, a vegan farm / animal sanctuary. Cary enjoys learning how things work, being hands-on and has a strange attraction to performing manual labor ("brawn over brains"). As the Eating- Green lead, he aims to have fun challenging himself and encouraging others to better understand how our food choices impact all forms of life. Kim Jelfs Adopt-A-Highway Lead Past Board Member, Kim first became involved with GreenTown through our "Skip the Straw' campaign and hasn't looked back! She loved our hands-on, "can do" approach and immediately felt at home. A former H.R. Manager, she has volunteered in schools and local communities and is passionate about waste reduction, eliminating single-use plastics, and living sustainably. When not growing food in her garden, you can find Kim hiking local trails and traveling. Kris Jensen Consulting Director, Development Kris is our quintessential perfect match. The living embodiment of an advocate, starting at age 13 by penning a note to Pres. Reagan protesting removing the White House’s solar panels. He lives sustainably, is a certified permaculture designer, gardens, cooks and does woodwork when he’s not guiding our community efforts. Michele Gerstel Marketing Lead Michele admits joining the GreenTown team was a no brainer. Why? Who wouldn’t want to be a part of a team of passionate, brilliant residents working to improve our community’s future? Marketing its programs are just plain fun. Not to mention rewarding. Enough to keep anyone smiling. Jana Schlanker Organization Lead Jana is our organizational go to. Her smiling face makes it easy to make any request and know it will be readily handled. From managing our growing database, organizing volunteers and coordinating events, she has an eye for details that we enjoy having on board.

Building Community for Electrification Code Red Series March 18, 12 - 1 PM via Zoom Register Here Home: Welcome LATEST NEWS & ARTICLES GreenTown Blog | Subscribe to Newsletter Bike Month Brings the Community Together on Two Wheels! Margie Suozzo May 5 GreenTown Los Altos’ LASD WoW! Survey Analysis - Fall 2025 Margie Suozzo Apr 2 Green Gardeners - Use Electric Leaf Blowers! Linda Ziff Jan 29 Electrification Journey KJ Janowski Sep 12, 2025 Heat Pumps Cause Pregnancy!! Connie Miller Aug 7, 2025 Walk or Wheel into the New School Year with WoW! Margie Suozzo Aug 4, 2025 UPCOMING EVENTS Event Calendar No events at the moment CONNECT WITH US SEARCH THE SITE

Eating Green Why Eat Green? BACKGROUND When it comes to plant-based diets, what’s not to like? It’s good for our planet, good for our health and good for the animals! GreenTown Los Altos is here to support YOU and local restaurants in transitioning to more plant-based meals! Here’s why. Healthy Planet = Healthy People Plant-based eating is good for the planet A plant-based diet reduces greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) – Raising animals for human consumption is a major cause of climate change, generating 18 percent of all GHGs globally. Eating green saves freshwater resources – Nearly 30 percent of freshwater is used for animal agriculture and animal agriculture is a large source of pollution of waterways, coastal areas and coral reefs. Plant-based eating results in more sustainable land use – Three-quarters of all agricultural land is used for animal agriculture. Increased land use for animal agriculture is a key factor in deforestation leading to species extinction and biodiversity loss. Seventy percent of previous forested land in the Amazon is now pasture and feed-crops cover a large part of the remainder. Healthy Bodies = Happy Bodies Eating green is good for your health A low-fat, plant-based diet, combined with regular exercise and a healthy overall lifestyle, can prevent, delay and even reverse heart disease and other cardiovascular events. Plant-based diets have been shown to control and reverse Type II diabetes. Large healthcare organizations, like Kaiser Permanente now advise all of their 17,000+ physicians to recommend a plant-based diet to all their patients. Happy Animals = Happy Planet Plant-based diets are compassionate Plant-based eating reduces animal death and enables animals to live out their full lives. For every person in the world, more than 10 animals are slaughtered each year. Animals are slaughtered at a fraction of their lifespan. Chickens naturally live for 10 years, but when bred for meat, they are typically killed at 6 weeks. Pigs, which live for 15 years, are typically killed at 6 months. Plant-based eating spares animal suffering. The vast majority of chickens, cows and pigs are raised on concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to maximize efficiency and profitability in living conditions that are not humane. Animals are denied their basic instincts, like roaming, nesting, and nurturing their young. Los Altos and Los Altos Hills residents want to eat more plants More than two-thirds of omnivores surveyed in Los Altos/Hills want to eat more plant-based foods. Nearly half of the omnivores surveyed are not happy with the number of plant-based options at local restaurants. This number jumps to two-third when vegans and vegetarians are included. Barriers to residents adopting more plant-based foods at home include a lack of recipes and concerns about nutrition. That’s where we come in. References Livestock’s long shadow (UN FAO 2006) The water footprint of poultry, pork and beef: A comparative study in different countries and production systems Sustaining Life: How Human Health Depends on Biodiversity Center for Biological Diversity Physicans Committee for Responsible Medicine on Heart Disease Physicans Committee for Responsible Medicine on Heart Disease A low-fat vegan diet improves glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors in a randomized clinical trial in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Nutritional Update for Physicians: Plant-Based Diets Greenpeace “Less Is More” goal UN FAO statistics Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies! Please enjoy these vegan chocolate chip cookies! The recipe was developed by the 2023 GreenTown summer interns. A local baker, Daphne Ross baked and donated these delectable treats for GreenTown's Annual Fundraiser. A big thanks to her - please learn more about Daphne here: www.snack-dragon.com RESOURCES Greenpeace Less is More Campaign Food Revolution Network One Meal a Day for the Planet Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine Veghead, etc. VegNews Email Us For inquiries about the "Eating Green" program contact us at: info@greentownlosaltos.org